Amid a surge in global layoffs, unemployment is not only creating financial strain but also taking a significant psychological and emotional toll. In China, a unique trend has emerged, offering the unemployed a chance to "pretend to work" by renting office spaces and posing as professionals.

The trend has gained traction in major cities like Beijing. People pay a daily fee of 30-50 yuan ($4-$7) for the services. Some companies even go the extra mile by assigning fake tasks and conducting supervisory rounds to enhance the experience.

This quirky business model is a hit among young professionals reeling from layoffs in collapsing industries or fleeing toxic workplaces. These spaces offer a psychological lifeline, helping jobless twentysomethings dodge prying family questions ("Still unemployed?") and maintain a sense of structure during uncertain times.